Monday, March 4, 2013

Maine Women's Basketball will not participate in 2013 America East Championship

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The University of Maine women’s basketball team will not participate in the 2013 America East Women’s Basketball Championship presented by SEFCU that begins on Friday, March 9, the university announced on Monday evening.

The announcement comes in the aftermath of the Feb. 26 bus accident on Interstate 95 near Georgetown, Mass. in which the bus driver was injured and a Maine player sustained a broken hand.

"It has been a difficult time for these student-athletes following the accident," says Robert Dana, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. "Our focus has been and continues to be the health and well-being of these players in their athletic and academic lives. Knowing students as I do and having consulted with experts, my recommendation to President Ferguson, AD Abbott and Coach Barron is that the UMaine women's basketball team end its season to spend this time continuing to recuperate. They are back in the UMaine community and that's what matters. Seeing them back on the road for the tournament would have been difficult and not in their best interest."

Coach Richard Barron and Athletic Director Steve Abbott talked with the student-athletes Monday morning and afternoon before notifying America East of Maine's decision.

“We are very sympathetic to the traumatic event Maine women’s basketball has experienced,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “We entrust this decision to the experts and professionals on Maine’s campus to do what is best for the student-athletes, coaches and staff. The America East still looks forward to a great tournament in Albany this weekend.”

Maine was the No. 8 seed in the 2013 America East Championship and was scheduled to play No. 1 seed Albany in session two of the tournament on Friday, March 8, at 6 p.m. Fans who have already purchased single-session tickets for session two will receive a full refund. Session two tickets for all reserved section seats will now be reduced to $5.

In addition, fans who have already purchased all-session passes will receive a partial refund by calling the Albany ticket office at 518-442-DANE. Those fans also will receive a $10 discount for a future America East Championship event.

The game between No. 4 seed Stony Brook and No. 5 seed New Hampshire which was scheduled during session two at 8 p.m. has been moved to the 6 p.m. time slot. No. 1 seed Albany advances to the semifinals Sunday at 1 p.m.